Maxwell Reed was a Northern Irish actor who became a matinee idol in several British films during the 1940s and 1950s.

Maxwell Reed was born in Larne and at age 15, he left school to work on ships, including as a blockade runner.

Maxwell Reed wanted to act and ended up studying at RADA for a year. During World War II, Maxwell Reed served in the RAF and then the Merchant Navy.

After demobilization, Maxwell Reed worked as an extra and in repertory and did a screen test for Riverside Studios at Rank and joined The Company of Youth at the age of 27.

Maxwell Reed made his film debut in The Years Between (1946) and then appeared in Gaiety George (1946).

Who was Maxwell Reed?

Maxwell Reed was the first husband of actress Joan Collins, whom he married on 24 May 1952.

Maxwell Reed is reported to have raped Joan Collins when dating, but she married him out of shame.

Maxwell Reed and Joan Collins were separated in 1954 and the marriage ended in divorce in 1956.

How old was Maxwell Reed when he died?

Maxwell Reed died from cancer in 1974, at the age of 55, in London.